Thinking a minimalist approach to clothes woukd make life easier but is this boring?

[Jemster]

I feel I need to start again with my wardrobe now turned 40.
I have lots of odd bits of clothing but not many outfits I can put together.
I spend most mornings stressed out trying to find something to wear to work & never feel smart or well put together. My colleagues dress very well although they are younger, no kids, more money for clothes!

Then I come home & put on jeans & a boring top. I have nothing nice to wear on a night out so panic if I ever get asked anywhere!

The clothes I do have just don't do anything for me anymore but I can't bring myself just to chuck them out as I have spent money on them, it seems such a waste.

I have £250 birthday money, £80 John Lewis & £20 M&S vouchers to spend but I just don't know what to buy. I could get a lot for that somewhere like H&M or primark but will I end up more confused about what to wear?

I'm thinking to make life simpler should I just chuck old crappy stuff & try & manage with very few but nicer clothes?

Please can anyone help? I am rubbish at the whole putting clothes together thing! Thanks for any help.

until an expert comes along...... can you have a sort out of your stuff and see what "gaps" you have that are preventing you from making up outfits?

I'd get rid of things that don't fit nicely or are worn out etc.

look and see if there is anything that you don't wear because it needs mending/ re-dyeing (I do this with black jeans and tops if they fade-renews them wonderfully) altering-and get them sorted!

have a look on pinterest to decide the look you want

quality versus quantity- I go quality coats /boots /bags /knitwear /bras. can go cheaper summer footwear , basic tops or shirts, knickers etc.

would love to have that amount to spend! :)

Thank you everythings, i have looked at pinterest but the clothes shown don't always seem to be in the high street shops. Alot of them are links to American sites. Is it better to just use it to get ideas & then try & find similar in the shops or should I search for UK shops?

What is your job? In your shoes with a bit of cash to spend I'd probably try and buy a couple of decent pairs of trousers for work and tops you can mix and match with them, and have a sort of "uniform" approach. I mainly wear either a dress/cardigan/opaques and flats or black skinny jeans and a blouse for work, and by laying out an outfit the night before (I hang it in the bathroom) avoid scrabbling about in the morning.

In terms of spending v saving, I spend on jeans, underwear, coats and footwear, and bags. Things like tops and dresses I spend less - I have loads of H&M "basics" cardigans in different colours which are dirt cheap, wash brilliantly, and can change the look of a dress really easily.

I'm also a big fan of ordering a load of stuff from ASOS to try on at home - free delivery and returns and lots of different brands as well as their own things.

Thank you Judy thats very helpful. I work in an office where there is a mixture of dress styles. We don't have to wear suits but most people look smart. I feel so much more confident when I'm wearing something smart to work.
I'm part time so I suppose I don't want to spend a fortune on work clothes but it would be nice to have a few nice things that go together.
I always thought Asos was for younger people but I'll have a look. I like the idea of trying on at home as I hate traipsing round shops & coming back empty handed!

I hate spending money on specific work clothes - I tend to wear the same sort of things for work/play, but different actual items, if that makes sense. I then "relegate" things like blouses and dresses to my work wardrobe once I'm fed up with them. Once they cross over, they never go back! I'm a lecturer in a creative subject, so I tend to look put together but not corporate.

ASOS is great, honestly! Their own brand stuff is good for things like dresses, and I actually have a few coats from there, but they stock loads of brands - definitely Whistles, Oasis, Warehouse, Ganni, River Island.

Jemster- what height, size, colouring etc are you? What colours do you feel good in? Do you like knee length, above knee etc? I know myself with blonde hair that black always drains me so tend to wear navy. For work I tend to go for shift type dresses as they make me feel smart ( with say a cropped cardigan ) and when trying to get ready in the morning with work / school chaos it's a complete outfit no matching trousers/ skirts/ tops etc.

This time of year I tend to buy a couple of dresses to wear out in the run up to christmas that can then be taken for 'work' in the new year - therefore doesn't seem like specifically spending on work clothes..

Have a look online at shop websites to get an idea of what sort of things you like - White company, Hush, Mint Velvet, White Stuff ( not keen on the patterned stuff but have couple of shift dresses from them) Boden, M&S. Again I often see an outfit / style I like say a hush skirt and top - may order say the skirt and perhaps if the top is plain find a cheaper similar one in M&S. Most do free delivery and returns these days so can try at home.

Now I have got my wardrobe fairly sorted I tend to only buy things I really love ie: no sale stuff just because it's cheap, and if it's an individual item it has to go with at least a couple of things I already own. Quality rather than quantity - I think it's an age thing (43) no longer want disposable clothing.

Sorry bit of an essay but might be useful

Based on your description, i woukd google capsule wardrobes and take from there.... quality and FIT being hugely important

Depending on what you need, 350 could go to say 1-2 pairs boots/shoes, 1 pair trousers, 1 pr jeans, 1 dress, 1 knit, 2 tops (budget 40-50 per item) ... with the best of what you have its a lean but workable wardrobe that you can add to in the sales

Shop with thought and care, buy things that you love not that will 'do' and plan out... will an item make outfits or is it an 'orphan'

Sales/outlets great (and always seem to be on)

And.. if you are not dying to wear an item in 1st week you own it, you dont love it enough so send it back

I felt exactly like this two years ago. I went and had advice from House of Colour and never looked back. The £250 would get you a colour and style day which would give personal tailored advice on exactly what suits you. It was revolutionary for me.

I would invest in a good pair of either black,grey, blue trousers then see what tops you have that you like and build it from there. My basics would include a neutral skirt that works with the tops, a dress, cardigans and maybe a jacket. Have a look on the vivienne files archives for ideas on how to create different outfits. I would have a look in zara, massimo dutti, h and m and uniglo for tops and basics. Me and em worth a look but expensive, great plains is also good in the sales.

Working part time, I'd buy 2 skirts and 4 tops for work. Maybe a black pencil skirt, a grey full skirt, a black top, a grey top, a white top and a pink or burgundy top.

Then I'd buy 2 pairs of jeans, one black and one indigo, and a black jumper and a grey jumper. Long sleeved t-shirts in black, grey and pink or burgundy. Flat ankle boots and heeled ankle boots and a black silk top for nights out.

After that I'd add other stuff as and when, but with the things I've listed plus a biker jacket, I could be dressed okay for most of the things I'd want/need to do.

And a black dress.

Hiya Jemster,

I love the minimalist lifestyle. I also decluttered my wardrobe after my second baby and feel so much better about my life and my choices in the morning!

So if you want to build a wardrobe from scratch

Here are some suggestions

1. First write down all the different roles you do a week ( so for you half your week is work and the half is......x, y, z)
2. Write down what you typically enjoy wearing and want to try ( things you want to try but don't know how to dress it, wear it etc) - so do you like patterns, do you like wearing bold colours, etc
3. Once you have identified that now you have an idea of the clothes to look out for
4. The foundation to any good wardrobe is the classics , items that will pull your look together - foundation of your wardrobe is best bought in neutral tones ( i.e. white, black , navy, grey, cream) as they will last longer in your wardrobe.
5. The essentials of wardrobe include dark denim, black trouser ( tailored) , black blazer, grey knit, white shirt or blouse, shift dress ( works for all shapes) , A line skirt one that fits your body shape, and shoes ( flats, ankle boots, pointed ballet pumps, knee high boots )

Think of your wardrobe like a pyramid, spend more on the basics and classics as these items will last longer, then you have the trend items that you update every season, and finally accessories.

This is a general overview of creating a wardrobe from scratch.... if you want more specific answers, msg me.

SP